Meriden Man Killed In Crash ‘Loved To Put A Smile On The Face Of Others’

MERIDEN, CT — The community is rallying around the family of a Meriden man who was killed in a head-on crash on Route 66 in Middlefield while he was driving home from work last week.

Venancio Papalotzi-George, 46, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Meriden Road (Route 66) on Aug. 29, according to Connecticut State Police.

Police said Papalotzi-George was driving a 2012 Honda Civic and traveling westbound on Route 66, and a Middletown resident was driving a 2009 Jeep eastbound and both vehicles collided head-on.

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to help the family with funeral expenses and to “lay him to rest in Mexico, where his mom & loved ones wait for him.”

“Those who knew Venancio know how much he loved & cared for not only his family, but everyone,” a post on the GoFundMe page reads. “He was someone who always had a positive outlook on life, and would joke around. He loved to put a smile on the face of others. We will always remember that smile.”

More than $5,800 has been raised within the first five days of the campaign.

For more information, or to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page here.